Staff from Scotts Bluff National Monument worked with volunteers from across the United States during Descriptathon 10!
Did you know that many National Park Service sites across the United States offer an audio described version of their brochures? Mainly for individuals who are blind or visually impaired, audio description takes an item that otherwise only can be seen (such as a photograph, a painting, a poster, a statue, a map, etc.) and formats it so that it can be heard.
The UniDescription Project is led by Dr. Brett Oppegaard, a Professor at University of Hawaii (UH), in the School of Communication and Information, who has been collaborating with colleagues in the UH Center on Disability Studies and the National Park Service. Their big-picture goal is simple and straightforward: Audio Describe the World!
The staff of Scotts Bluff National Monument spent several days in early February with “Team Rattlers” for Descriptathon 10. Our team included volunteers from other park sites (Agate Fossil Beds NM and Ford’s Theater), members of the American Council of the Blind, and members of the Blinded Veterans Association. We learned the art of description, practiced it with challenges that pitted us against other teams in single elimination tournaments, then focused our new skills on our own brochure.
The audio described version of the brochure that we produced is available on the UniDescription app in iOS or Android formats. It’s also on our website at: https://www.nps.gov/scbl/planyourvisit/park-brochure.htm.
The Scotts Bluff National Monument Visitor Center is currently open daily from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. The Summit Road is open (weather and conditions permitting) from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monument grounds and trails are open sunrise to sunset.
Further information about Scotts Bluff National Monument programs and schedules are available at the visitor center, by calling 308-436-9700 or by visiting our website at http://www.nps.gov/scbl/index.htm or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/scottsbluffnps.